Combination pneumatic locking and signaling apparatus



E. M. BOYLE. COMBINATION PNEUMATIC LOCKING AND SIGNALING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 25. I921- 1,%18,226. Patented May 30,1922;

LIIIIIIIIIIII Fain/Wall I ATTORNEY WITNESS:

'ATET EDWARD M. BOYLE, OF WATERTOWN, NEW YORK.

FECE.

Specification of Letters Patent. Pafggnfed ltlay 30, 1922.

Application filed June 25, 1921. Serial noise 191.

T 0 all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, EDWARD M. BOYLE, a citizen of the Unlted States, resldlng at State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Combination Pneumatic Locking and Signaling Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

This invention. relates to combination pneumatic locking and pneumatic signal apparatuses.

Some of the objects of the present invention are: to equip a train of cars such as freight cars with door locking means-which is responsive to the pneumatic force derived from the compressed air supply carried'b'y the train, and automatically operable pneumatic signal means; to employ locking means which is responsive to said pneumatic force for unlocking said doors and signal means which is automatically responsive to said pneumatic force at the time of the unlocking of said doors; to provide means for rendering the said locking means operative at different pressures. I With these and other objects in view the invention resides in the particular provision and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully described and illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a" diagrcmmatic view of the apparatus of the present invention.

Figure 2 is a sectional view through the pneumatic means and correlated locking devices.

Figure 3 is a detail sectional view taken on the line 83, Figure 2.

Referring now more particularly to the drawing for details of the several features of the present invention, it will be manifest that, it will include an air pressure tank or tanks 10 which receive and have compressed therein, air, by a pump or pumps 11 such parts forming elements in what is known as the train line. The train air line carries about seventy pounds pressure ordinarily, but the pressure may be brought up to eighty or ninety pounds if desired for a purpose to appear hereinafter. The air in the tank 10 is released therefrom by the -manipulation of a valve 12 in a pipe 13 which connects said tank .with' the pneumatic devices 1 1 and 15.

16 which has arranged for movement therein a piston 17 having a rod 18. Springs 19', 19

are disposed between the piston'17 and the top wall 20 of the casing 16, the said wall lVatertown, in the county of Jefferson and '20 being removably secured to said casing.

A latch 21 is arranged for movement upon movement of the piston 17, and the saidlatch is pivoted as at 22'; The latch 21 extends through a slot 23 in the rod 18. The free end of the latch is engageable with the free end of a catch 24 bolted or otherwise attached to the car-door C. The device 14:

also includes means for rendering the same operative under different pressures.

said means comprises in the present instance a member 25 which is adjustably arranged in the slot 23 in the rod 18. A set screw or the like 26' is employed .to hold the said member .25 in its different positions of adjustment, a slot 27 being provided in the rod 18 to accommodate the screw 26 to allow the same to be moved up and down on the said rod 18 in effecting the adjustment of themeinber 25. As stated hereinb'efore the train line ordinarily carries about seventy pounds pressure but should it be desired to have the device 1 1 operate at a higher pressure, at eighty pounds for instance, or at ninety pounds, it would only be necessary to lower the member 25 with respect to the latch 21. I

The devicelfi includes a. passage 28 which in the present instance is formed preferably in the casing 16. An opening 29 in the wall 80 establishes communication between the passage 28 and the interior of the casing in which the piston 17 moves. A signal 31 in the nature of a whistle is connected to the passage 28 by a pipe 32. It will be obvious that as the piston 17 moves upwardly it uncovers the opening 29 and allows some of the air to pass into the passage 28 and thence to the whistle 31.

It will be manifest from the foregoing that. it will be impossible to unlock the doors unlessthe train line is properly coupled and it necessarily requires the locomotive to be included in the coupling so that the valve 12 which is on the locomotive may be operated; that when the locomotive is uncoupled it will be impossible to unlock the car doors and the contents of the cars therefore cannotbe pilfered while standingin the yards or on sidings.

It is to be understood that the devices 14 and 15 are arranged within the car. It is The i also to be understood that in a train oi cars some of the cars need not be equipped With signals.

What is claimed is:

1. A locking and signaling apparatus including a door-catch, pneumatic means in cluding a latch operable to move said latch relatively to said catch, and a pneumatic signal means operable subsequently to the operation of the first mentioned means.

2. A locking apparatus including a doorcatch, a pivotally mounted latch arranged for engagement and disengagement with said catch, a pneumatic device responsive toe the force of compression including a rod, the rod andlatch being correlatedclt'or allovw ing the movement of the said latch upon the operation of said device, and adjustable means allowing the device to move said latch through the intervention of said rod at different pressures.

3. A locking apparatus including a doorcatch, a pivotally mounted latch arranged for engagement and disengagement with said catch, a pneumatic device responsive to the force of compression including a rod,'the rod and latch being correlated for allowing the movement of the said latch upon the operation of said device, and means including an adjustable member on said rod for allowing the movement of said latch upon the operation of said device through the intervention of said 'rod and member.

4. A. locking and signaling apparatus including a door-catch, a pivotally'mounted latch. arranged for engagement and disengagement with said door-catch, a pneumatic device responsive to the force of compression including a piston and a rod, a member carried by said rod and adjustable thereon with relation to said latch with which it engages upon the upward movement of said a passage in communication with the said I chamber, and a whistle inoperative connection with said passage, the said piston being movable to cut off communication between the said passage and said chamber.

. 6.1 A locking and signaling apparatus comprising a doorcatch, a" pivotally mounted latch arranged for engagement and disengagement with said door-catch, a pneumatic device including a compressed-air reservoir, a chamber, a pipe connecting said reservoir with said chamber, a control valve in said pipe, apiston movable in said chamber, said piston having a rod, springs acting on said piston; a member carried by said rod and. adqustable thereon with relation to said latch with which it engages upon the up ward movement of said rod, and a pneumatic signal devlce lncludlng a passage in communication with said chamber, and a whistle in operative connection with said passage, the said piston being movable to cut-oft communication between said passage and said chamber.

In testimony whereof I hereby affix my signature.

EDWARD M. BOYLE. 

